Debarking machine having staggered flail-carrying drums for broadside attack on rotating logs



June 10, 1952 WILLIFQRD 2,599,962

DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED FLAIL-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROADSIDE ATTACK 0N ROTATING LOGS Filed Sept. 22, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w umwlzw ATTORNEYS June 10, 1952 J WILLIFQRD 2,599,962

DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED FLAIL-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROADSIDE ATTACK ON ROTATING LOGS Filed Sept. 22, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR June 10, 1 J. K. WILLIFORD 2 DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED FLAIL-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROADSIDE ATTACK ON ROTATING LOGS Filed Sept. 22, 1950 6 Sheet s-She et 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 10, 1952 J. K. WILLIFORD 2,599,962

- I DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED FLAIL-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROADSIDE ATTACK 0N ROTATING LOGS Filed Sept. 22, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR' ATTORNEYS June 10, 1952 J. K. WILLIFORD 2,599,962

' DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED FLAIL-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROADSIDE ATTACK ON ROTATING LOGS Filed sew. 22, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 3 WmarKlW/wfazd gg WW ATTORNEYS June 10, 1952 J. K. WILLIFORD 2,599,962

DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED FLAIL-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROADSIDE ATTACK ON ROTATING LOGS Filed Sept. 22, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 zfmmes f Iii/291d ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF I CE DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING STAGGERED PLAID-CARRYING DRUMS FOR BROAD- SIDE ATTACK N. ROTATING LOGS James K. Williford, Hickory, Miss. Application September 22, 1950, Serial No. 186,246

9 Claims. (01. 144-208) 1 This invention relates to log debarking machines, 'and more particularly to machines of this character which are fully automatic in their operation H W The object of the present invention is to provide a log debarking machine *in which all parts of the log will be reached by the bark-removing means, and the log will be held against movement away iroin the bark-removing means 'while being worked upon. This is accomplished by working upon spaced lengths 'o flth'e log sequentially, and permitting engagement of the unworked upon 's ection's by transpdrtirfg and holddown rriechanisrns 4 Another Object of the invention is to provide means for rotating the log while in transit through the machine and being subjected 'to the actionof the bark-removing mechanism, I

A further and important object of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the logs are loaded and carried through the machine automatically and in continuous procession, the logs having their bark removed white 1 1 forward motion, regardless of the respective diameters of adjacent logs. 1

I stillfurther object is to providenieahs for rotating the log during deb'arking, which meahs does not interfere with the 'co1rtinuoiis forward movement ofthe log through the machine. I V otherobject's of the invention will become apparent from the following 'aesc'ripti swhen taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany andform a part of this speiiiflc atioh.

In the drawings; 1 V Figure lis'a "side elevation of a tl'fidk with logdebarkin'g mechanism constructed in 'ae'eoraaece with the resent invention positioned t ereon;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section talgen centrally through the machine;

F 1 1re 3 is a horizontal "section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; I

Fig llife 4 is a vertical, transverse section taken as the line -4 'o'rr'i' fire 1;

5 is an enlarged vertical sectioh taken ofrthe line 555 of l filgure 4-; an I Figured is averticaltrahsverse section taken 11 m r -w Fi a ..;R.9 i h t th stra se 9 id m-. t eme- I e qe is i llz xe d 19.99% ing portable so that it may be taken readily from o t ot er b it wi lbe nqe s b ha the machine may' be positioned upon a pen manently exec base, w V

As. illustrated} e d barking. mechanism is mounted upon a truck chess s 'l. Bolsters 2 are bed rails 3 of the machine are suitably secured to them. Vertical supports 4 are connected to the bed rails, and stringers 5 connect the supports 4. The various operating parts of .the machine are supported by the supports 4 and. stringersi.

The operating parts of the machine consist essentially of a loading device .6, log'feeding means I, two stages of debarking'means B and 9, hold-down mechanism [0, and unloading skids l I. All parts of the machine are driven from a motor l2 which may be conveniently .mounted on the bed rails 3 at the rear of the truck.

The loading device comprises a pair of. endless chains l3, passing around sprockets M which are secured to a shaft '15 journaled .upon forward ends of the central stringers 5. The chains are positioned on an incline, and may have their forward ends (not shown) supported from the front end of the truck frame. The chains are provided with dogs [6 to engage the logs and hold them in position as the 'chains travel upward.

Also mounted upon the shaft I5 is a second pair of sprockets l1. These carry the forward feed chains [8 which receive the logs from the loading chains l3 and transport them through the first stage of debarking. Chains l8 have dogs H! for holdingthe logs in position. As the chains l8 must support the logs over an appreciable distance, they are provided with rollers 20 which ride in channel tracks 2| which extend along the major portion of the upper flights of the chains. Channels 2| are supported at their front ends upon angle irons 22 which extend transversely across the frame and are connected to the forward vertical frame supports 4. At their rear, the channels are supported by brackets 2| securedto the stringer 5. At the rear, chains l8 pass around sprockets 23- mounted upon shaft 24 which is journaled in bearings carried by the central stringer 5.

Immediately to the rear of chains I 8 there is a second pair. of ,feed chains-25. These pass around sprockets 26 upon shaft 2!, and sprockets 21 upon a shaft 2 8 also mounted in j'ournalssupported by stringer 5. Chains 25 have rolIers29 which travel in guide tracks '30 which are supported upon brackets wh'ich are connected to the stringer ii. They also carry dogs 3i.

It will be noted that the forward chains l8 are positioned aboutbne-thirdof the distance between the side frames from each side frame, while chains 25 are located closelyadjacent the frame members. The two sets of chains, in ef feet, form a single, continuous transporting means, as the chains overlap at the center of the machine and when chains I8 pass around sprockets 23, the logs are already supported by chains 25. The different spacing of the chain sets is to provide space for the operation of the debarking means and to permit debarking of the log from end toend, as will be described.

Operating in conjunction with the feed chain sets are the sets of log-rotating chains 32 and 33. Chains 32 are positioned parallel to, and

closely adjacent to, chains I8, while chains 33 are similarly positioned with respect to chains 25. Chains 32 pass around sprockets 34 and 35 on shafts 36 and 31, and chains 33 around sprockets 38 and 39 on shafts 4D and 4|. It will be noted that chains 32 and 33 are shorter than the feed chains with which they cooperate, and are positioned intermediate the lengths of the respective feed chains and substantially centered with respect to the stages of debarking (see Fig. 2). In each instance,'the top flight of the logrotating chains is positioned slightly higher than the companion flight of the feed chain. This will cause the log to be lifted from the feed chain upon the rotating chain to rest thereon, but the log will still be under the influence of the dogs on the feed chain. Thelog-rotating chains are moved in a direction opposite to that of the feed chains. By reason of this, the dogs upon the feed chains will keep pressing against the logs to keep them in continuous forward movement, but the log, resting upon the oppositely rotating chains, will be'caused to rotate. The top flights of the chains 32 and 33 slide over supporting flanges 2i and 30 which extend from the tracks 20 and 30, respectively, so as to prevent sagging under the weight of the logs.

During the period that the logs are on the logrotating chains 32, they pass through the first state of debarking. The debarking means 8 comprises three drums 42, spaced apart upon a shaft 43 which is journaled in bearings mounted on the bottom stringers 5. The drums are positioned on the shaft with the outside drums close to the side frames of the machine, and the third drum centrally positioned between the other two. It will be noted from Figures 3 and 4 that the feed chains i8 and the log-rotating chains 32 are positioned to pass on either side of the central drum in the spaces between that drum and the'outsid'e drums. Each of the drums hasa plurality of flails 44', attachedto its outer surface. The flails are arranged in banks positioned longitudinally of the drums, the banks being spaced apart circumferentially of the drums. Each bank consists of a plurality of chains, flexible in the direction of drum rotation, with each chain carrying an angular bark-removing mem ber 45 at its outer end. It will be seen in Figures 3 and '4- that alternate banks have four chains and theintermediate banks have five. By staggering the positions of the banks, the flails present a continuous heating surface to the logs which extends substantially the width of the drums. The chains are of such length that an appreciable length of chain, as well as the angular member =45 will contact the log when the log is directly over the center of the drum. Therefore, the flails will contact the log, and remove bark, before the log reaches this central position and also while it is moving beyond it. This will insure the log making at least one complete revolution while in the area reached by the flails.

The second stage of debarking contains mechanism similar to the first, except that only two drums 46 are mounted upon the shaft 41. The drums 43 are staggered with respect to the positions of drums 42, so that the drums will overlap in their operation, and the entire length of the log will be subjected to the action of the debarking flails. In other words, the drums it occupy the same longitudinal positions with respect to the logs as do the feed chains it of the first debarking stage so that the drums may remove the bark from those portions of the log Which were supported upon the feed chains during the first debarking action. Drums 56 are equipped with flails 48 similar to flails 44 of drum 42.

To insure the logs maintaining firm contact with the 10g rotating chains, and to prevent them from being lifted fromthem under the impact of the flails, mechanism is provided to press upon the tops of the logs while they are in the sphere of operation of the drums. This is the hold down mechanism I0 previously referred to.

There are two of these mechanisms, one for each stage of debarking. As the only difference between the two is that the forward one 49 is narrower than the rear one 50, for a reason which will appear later, only one will be described in detail.

The hold down devices consist of two truss frames 5! which are held in spaced relation by cross members 52. Each of the side frames 5! is composed of an elongated top rail 53, a short bottom rail 54 held in parallel spaced relation to the top rail by vertical struts 55,- and the end members 56 which incline upwardly from the ends 'ofthe bottom rail to the ends of the top rail. The entire device is suspended from chains 51, which are connected to rods 58, which bridge the upper horizontal stringers 5 of the main frame. The devices are further supported by arms 59 which are swivelly connected to shafts 6U journalled to the bottom rails of the side trusses. The upper ends of the arms are pivotally connected to shafts 3| which are journaled upon the upper stringers 5. By this arrangement, the hold down devices are freely floating and may rise and fall or tilt in a vertical plane in accordance with the size of the logs which are in the machine. To enable the logs to move freely under the hold down deviceaand also to assist in rotating the logs. chains 62 are provided to form the log contacting surfaces of these devices. These chains pass around sprockets 63 on shafts 60 and sprockets 64 on shafts 65 mounted on the bottom rails 54. Chains 62 have their bottom flights moving in a direction opposite to that of the top flights of the log rotating chains 32 and 33 so as to aid the rotating of the log.

As previously mentioned, all of the moving parts of the machine are driven from the motor l2. A belt 66 runs from the motor shaft around a pulley 61 mounted on the shaft 4! of the rear debarking drums. Shaft 41 also carries a sprocket 68 around which a chain 69 passes to a sprocket 10 on shaft 43 which supports the forward debarking drums. Thus, both sets of drums are driven in the same direction, and at the same speed. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the drums rotate in an opposite direction to the travel of the logs.

vShaft 41 carries a second sprocket II for a belt 12 which passes around sprocket 13 on a short shaft 14 journaled upon one side of the main frame. Shaft 14 carries a sprocket I5 and chain 16 is driven by this sprocket andI in turn, diives sprccret 11 ea shaf .18. Shaft 18, throu h sprocket 19 and chain 80, drives "shaft 'B'I Qwhich carries spur gear 8; which meshes with gear 83 on the rear feed-chain rear sprocketsha'ft 28. This will drive the rear feed chains, and, asthe rear feed chains and forward feed chains have sprockets on the common shaft 24', the forward chains will be driven also. Thissame drive will operate the'l'oading chains, for the loading device and forward feed chains use the com'mon 'shaft I5. Due to the use of the gears 82 and 83. the direction of rotationof the loading and feedchains will be reversed to that of the 'debarking d um V It is desirable that the logs be rotated in. a direction opposite to that of the debarkin'g drums, so it is necessary to drive both the log-rotating drums. and the chains of the hold down devices in the same direction as the drums. To do this, power is taken from the shafts I8 and B'Iwhich are driven from the drums, From shaft 18 a chain 84 drives Shaft, and from shaft 85 chain 85 drives the rear log rotating chain shaft 48. Also from shaft 85 chain 8'! drives the forward shaft 8| which pivctall'y supports the frcnt hold down device arms 59. A chain 88, passing around sprockets on shafts 'BI and 60, drives the hold down device chains 82. Another chain 89 from shaft 6| drives the forward log rotating chain shaft 36. From shaft 8!, chain 90 drives shaft SI of the rear hold down device, and from this shaft chain 9! drives the shaft 60. This completes the drive.

In operation, the motor 12 will be started which will set all of the operating parts in motion. Logs will then be loaded upon the chain l3, and the logs resting against the dogs I6 will be carried upto the feed chains l8. The logs will be pushed onto the feed chains [8 by the dogs I6 of the loader chains, and the dogs IQ of feed chains 18 will contact the rear of the logs to push them through the machine. When the log-rotating chains 32 are reached, the logs, being pushed forward by the feed chain dogs l9, will ride up on the elevated top flights of the log-rotating chains, remaining, however, in contact with the feed chain dogs so that they will be moved continuously forward. While the logs are on the logrotating chains, they pass under the hold down device 49. Due to the floating mount for the hold down device, this mechanism may tilt or rise or fall freely in a vertical plane. The inclined end members 58 of the bottom rail will provide camming surfaces, so that if the forward end of the device is in a low position an approaching log will strike the incline and cause the device to ride up over the log. The floating mount will permit the device to contact two logs of different diameters simultaneously, and shift its position as the logs move through the machine to retain its contact. As previously described, the log-rotating chains are moving reversely to the feed chains, and the hold down chains are moving in a direction to assist in the rotative movement of the logs which is initiated by the log rotating chains.

During the time that the logs are under the influence of the rotating chains, they pass over the first debarking drum 42. These drums are so positioned that their flails 44 will strike the logs during an appreciable distance of log travel. As the logs are being rotated, the flails will have an opportunity to strip the bark from the entire perimeter of the log in the areas in which they fiperate, sates -"42 s'sjuiitffient1y w-iae -e'a'r'r' flails which will c c ntact slightly more than one-Fflfth 6f the; log length. The feed "and rotating chaise accept positions pe'tween t e [so thattliey do not interfere with the acti; nofthe flails. M

2 After the logs pass through th'e first stage (if debarki'ng', they have had their bark removed from their means center sections, the bark remaining on short sections intermediate the ends and center. The second of feed rotating chains are more widely spaced apart than the first, so that they may eassessmelogs on their already peeled end secticns. This peruninte'rrupted operation of the secoi id stage druins on those s'ectionsof the logs upcn whiclii the bark r'en' aifis. These drums 48 are trans-- verse ly spaced to occupy positions intermediate the drums of the first stage, so that all of remaining bark may be removed. V I

After the log is completely debarked it ispushed from the feed chains 25 bythedogs 31 the "skids I]. The logs will roll down the skids 1:0 be stacked i' ny convenient place.

The dbarking Y ac me here disclosed, being mounted upcn a truck chassis, is freely moveable from place to place, thus eliminating the necessity for transporting the logs to debarking apparatus. The device is fully automatic, and logs as they are cut my be placed upon. the loading chains and will emerge from the machine full-y 's'ttipped of their bark ready for trans-- portation to a place of storage or to a pulp mill.

While one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein,'it will be understood that this is merely by way of example, and various changes may bemade from this precise showing within the scope'of' the appended. claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In log debarking apparatus, feed means to transport logs through the apparatus along a predetermined path with the longitudinal axes of the logs transverse to said path, at least two rotatable drums carrying flails and being positioned so that said flails strike logs being carried. on-said feed means, said drums having their axes of rotation perpendicular to the path of. the feed means, said drums being spaced apart in the direction of said path and staggered trans-- versely to said path, means to rotate said logs; while in the zones of said flail-carrying drums,. said feed means being in at least two sections with the respective sections staggered in accord-- ance with the staggered positions of the flailcarrying drums with which they cooperate.

2. In log debarking apparatus, feed meanscomprising a pair of spaced chains to support. logs positioned transversely thereof and having upstanding dogs to engage the rear surfaces of said logs as the chains move forward, log-rotating chains having their upper flights elevated above said feed chains to lift the logs from said. feed chains while the logs remain in contact with said dogs on said feed chains, said logrotating chains moving in a direction opposite to that of said feed-chains, and a rotatable drum carrying flails and having its axis of rotation transverse to the direction of travel of said chains, said drums being positioned so that said flails strike logs supported on said log-rotating chains.

3. In a log debarking apparatus as claimed in claim 2, a floating hold down device positioned above said log-rotating chains and having 7.. chains to engage the-upper surfaces of logs supported on said log-rotating chains, the log-contacting surfaces of the log-rotating and hold down chains moving in opposite directions.

4. In log-debarking apparatus as claimed in claim 2, a floating hold down device positioned above said log-rotating chains and having chains to engage the upper surfaces of logs supported on said log-rotating chains, the log-contacting surfaces of the log-rotating and. hold down chains moving in opposite directions, said hold down device having cam leading and trailing surfaces to raise the device to rest upon a log and to lower the device when the log has passed.

5. In log-debarking apparatus, feed means comprising a pair of spaced chains to support logs positioned transversely thereof and having upstanding dogs to engage the rear surfaces of said logs as the chains move forward, log-rotating chains having their upper flights elevated above said feed chains to lift the logs from said feed chains while the logs remain in contact with said dogs on said feed chains, said log-rotating chains moving in a direction opposite to that of said feed chains, rotatable drums carrying flails and having their axes of rotation transverse to the direction of travel of said chains, said drums being positioned so that said fiails strike logs supported on said log-rotating chains, said drums being spaced apart in an axial direction and said feed chains and log-rotating chains occupying vertical planes intermediate said drums, a second set of feed chains in longitudinal continuation of the first and transversely offset with respect thereto, log-rotating chains in association with said second feed chains, and flailcarrying drums positioned beneath said second log-rotating chains and in transversely staggered and overlapping relation to said first drums.

6. In log-debarking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, a floating hold down device positioned above each of said sets of log-rotatingchains and having chains to engage the upper surfaces of logs supported on said log-rotating chains, the log-contacting surfaces of, the log-rotatin and hold down chains moving in opposite directions. 1

7. In log-debarking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, a floating hold down device positioned above each of said sets of log-rotating chains and having chains to engage the upper surfaces of logs supported on said log-rotating chains, the log contacting surfaces of the log-rotating and hold down chains moving in opposite directions, said hold down devices having cam leading and trailing surfaces to raise the devices to rest upon a log and to lower the devices when the log has has passed.

8. In log-debarking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, a loading conveyor to raise logs to said feed chains, and unloading skids to discharge logs therefrom.

9. In log-debarking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said apparatus being mounted upon a wheeled chassis, a loading conveyor supported at the front of said chassis to raise logs to said first set of feed chains, and unloading skids ,supported at the rear of said chassis to receive logs from said second set of feed chains.

JAMES K. WILLIFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT Number Name Date 1,106,177 Anderson Aug. 4, 1914 1,552,498 Noyes Sept. 8, 1925 2,436,555 Daniell Feb. 24, 1948 

